Group sues wineries for adding arsenic to wine

A lawsuit, filed on Thursday, alleges that 28 wineries knowingly produced contaminated wine in violation of state law and without informing consumers. http://www.bbc.com/news/31989879

A major trade group has called the lawsuit “false and misleading” and said that all wines on US shelves are safe.

The lawsuit claims that tests by three independent laboratories showed that in some cases there was six-times as much of arsenic present as is allowed by law.

“Although we are not privy to the contents of the litigation, we believe this allegation is false and misleading and that all wines being sold in the US marketplace are safe,” The Wine Institute, a trade group that represents over 1,000 wineries in the state, said in a statement.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and a halt in the production of the wine.